Throughout the year, Interfaith Philadelphia offers a diverse array of internship opportunities to both undergraduate and graduate students from across the country to work with us in the great city of Philadelphia. This summer we welcomed four new interns who are passionate about grassroots interfaith relations work! Learn a bit about them below and see their full bios here. Meet Zev, our Youth Programs intern! Zev is a rising senior at Grinnell College. A Religious Studies major, they care deeply about interfaith action. Zev is a member of the Grinnell Religious Studies Student Education ..read more

Written by Cat D'Angelo Our 2024 Dare to Understand Awards and 20th Anniversary celebration, held on June 6, 2024, at the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral, was a remarkable occasion and a meaningful way to reflect and honor those who helped us reach this incredible milestone! With more than more than 275 people in attendance we honored Imam Dr. Quaiser D. Abdullah, The Reverend Jesse B. Garner, Marjorie N. Scharf, The Very Reverend Judith A. Sullivan, and the Walking the Walk Alumni & Partners - all of whom have been central to living our vision, and whose dreams will shape the future of ..read more

By Maya Lanzisera On National Gun Violence Awareness Day, Friday, June 7, 2024, Philadelphia united for Toll the Bell, an event organized by Penn Live Arts to raise awareness and honor victims of gun violence. Held in collaboration with Interfaith Philadelphia’s Religious Leader’s Council of Greater Philadelphia, this city-wide event engaged over 40 partners including faith-based sites and community organizations. At midday vigil service at the Annenberg Center in West Philadelphia featured prayers and reflections by members of the Religious Council: Bishop Patricia Davenport, South ..read more

By River Mason Since 2007, Interfaith Philadelphia has hosted Interfaith Alternative Break Trips for student leaders from colleges, universities, high schools, and youth groups from around the country. We were grateful to resume in-person programs during the 2022-2023 season, and this fall marked another successful Alternative Break season. LaSalle University and Messiah University students joined Interfaith Philadelphia to engage in interfaith exploration, volunteer work, and community engagement. As a new staff member, participating in the Alternative Break for the first time provided me ..read more

At our upcoming 2024 Dare to Understand® Awards Ceremony, we're celebrating the nearly 1000 past participants of our Walking the Walk Youth Initiative. As we reach out to these alumni, many are sharing how their experiences in the program have helped them as adults living and working in an interfaith society. In this article, we hear from an alumna, Katie Rockford, and a mentor, Maha Attia. I am a Walking the Walk alumna who participated for four years, two of which I was a student group leader. Growing up in an interfaith family inspired me to take part in Walking the Walk. I always wante ..read more

  The Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia (RLC) hosted an interfaith prayer service for Philadelphia’s newly elected mayor, Cherelle Parker, on February 20, 2024 at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Center City. With more than 300 people in attendance, the service included scripture readings from the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian faith traditions. “We are here to pray for Mayor Parker and City Council, to build bridges of peace, and to support one another,” said Rev. Edward Livingston, Interfaith Philadelphia’s Director of Religious Community Initi ..read more

Celebrating our Best-Ever #GivingTuesday  November was exciting for Interfaith Philadelphia. Not only did we kick off our 20th Anniversary but we also celebrated #GivingTuesday (November 28, 2023) when we raised more than $4,600 in one day from generous donors. While overall national trends for #GivingTuesday showed a decrease in donors and donations, we attracted more new donors this year than ever before. What made this achievement even more special was the inclusion of program participants among the contributors, showcasing our community's deep commitment to our mission.&nb ..read more

  We are thrilled to announce the appointment of five new Board Members. Imam Quaiser Abdullah, Ph.D., expressed our honor in welcoming these distinguished individuals. "Their invaluable skills and diverse perspectives will undoubtedly contribute significantly to our efforts in charting a strategic direction and propelling us forward," he said. "These individuals will make a significant contribution to our organization with their expertise from across the public, private and nonprofit sectors," said Abby Stamelman Hocky, Executive Director of Interfaith Philadelphi ..read more

Today, our society needs dialogue and understanding more than ever. Because of this, we have worked tirelessly to unite people to stay in relationships and listen with compassion. Over the past two months, we have gotten requests from and worked with numerous individuals, organizations, and communities to help meet their needs in response to the crisis in Israel and Gaza. Here are just a few examples:  Interfaith Leadership Interfaith Philadelphia’s Board of Directors and the Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia directed their attention to this crisis at their fall meeting ..read more

By Sierra Cole Religion is frequently overlooked when it comes to a company's diversity agenda. This omission can lead to missed opportunities for establishing a workforce that is truly inclusive and representative. This fall, Interfaith Philadelphia organized a panel discussion for Buck-Mont Collaborative, a membership organization for health and human services professionals in Bucks and Montgomery Counties. The topic: Religious Diversity in Our Lives and Workplaces.   Interfaith Philadelphia's Leadership Institute Director, Asheq Fazllulah, moderated a panel of local professiona ..read more